Food cooking and service table



June 9, 1936 E, M. HORN FOOD COOKING AND SERVICE TABLE JNVENTOR.

W L MM ATTORNEYJ.

June 9, 1936. E- M- HORN 2,043,797

FOOD COOKING AND SERVICE TABLE fyi /f ZZ A /5 INVENTOR aff/#Mw ATTORNEYS Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE FOOD COGKING AND SERVICE TABLE Elizabeth M. Horn, Yeadon, Pa. Application February 13, 1935, Serial No. 6,285

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in electric food cooking and service tables and has for its primary object the provisIon of tables of this character which may be used for both cooking and serving food conveniently and eilciently.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a table of the kind referred to which may be readily moved to any part of the house and will provide a complete food warming service for a meal accommodating a few or many persons and also at high or medium heats provide a steam cooker of large capacity.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a table of the kind referred to which is of pleasing appearance, convenient arrangement and so designed that it will form an attractive piece of furniture without in any way interfering with its use as a food cooking and service table.

Another object is the provision of a table of the character referred to which is so designed as to conserve the heat within the heating compartment so that the temperature of the room in which it is used will not be undesirably increased.

A further object is the provision in a table of the character referred to of a novel means of insulation of the heating compartment.

Another object is the provision of an improved electric heating arrangement with novel means for securing even distribution of the heat in the heating compartment.

A further object is the provision in a table of the character referred to of convenient additional electrical outlets to which additional electrical appliances may be attached.

I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the table showing the drop leaves swung out and food receptacles in place.

Figure 2 is a top plan lview with the drop leaves swung down and tcp panel in place.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional vView taken substantially on the line 54-5 ofFig'ure l.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure. 5.

The table comprises the heating compartment indicated generally by reference letter 'I which is supported by legs 8 mounted on rubber casters 9'.

(Cl. B19-19) cabinet with side and end walls I2 and I3, respectively, and bottom wall I4. These walls are made of wood with an outer surface finished as is usual with any piece of furniture. The nish should be of a kind which is impervious to moisture and 6 will not crack when heated.

Ledge or shelf members I5 are secured to the top of the end and side walls and drop leaves I6 on the sides and I1 on one end are hinged by hinges I8 to the ledges I5. Suitable swinging l0 braces I9 are provided to support the drop leaves when they are swung up. 'I'he handle 2U is-hinged to handle brackets 2| which in turn are secured to the one end wall of the cabinet.

There is also provided a top panel 22 which l5 rests on beads 23 when the table is to be closed and not in use as a service or cooking table. lThis provides a flat top which makes the table useful for many purposes. To facilitate lifting of the panel 22 I provide a pivoted lever 24 which extends through the cabinet wall I3. By depressing the outer end of this lever 24 the inner end of the lever is caused to bear against panel 22 and raise it slightly. This will expose one end of the panel having a finger groove 25 by means of which 25 the panel may be further lifted and removed.

lWithin the outer cabinet there is arranged an inner double walled cabinet in which I dispose the electrical heating apparatus and the food receptacles. 'I'his inner cabinet consists of the up- 30 right side and end walls 26, bottom 21 and top panel 28 having appropriate openings 29 for food receptacles 30 which may be of different shapes. Proper covers 3I are provided for these receptacles. I also provide a thermometer 32 in this top 35 panel 28 for temperature guidance. Inner upright walls 33 of heat resisting material and the inner bottom 34 of the same material form a lining for the heat compartment. 'I'hese inner walls 33 and bottom 34y are spaced from the walls 26 and 40 bottom 2.1, respectively, and the space between the walls is lilled with a plastic insulating material which hardens when dry. The air space 35 between the walls 26 and bottom 21 of the inner cabinet andthe walls lz and la and bottom u of 45 theouter cabinet also provides further insulation to prevent loss of heat.

The heating unit` as a whole consists of two circular heaters 'Igfcarried by bolts 31. Above 50 the two heating elements 36 thereils a common baille plate 33carriejby the bolts 31 and spaced Reference numeral I0 indicates a utilltyifshelwfrom. heaters bybUShingS 39 BelOW each which is carried by supports I I secured to'legs:

The heating compartment 1 consists of an outer heater 33 is another baille III) carried by the bolt Y31 and spaced from the heater or bushing 4I. 55

` The assembly of heaters, baffle plates and bushing are held on bolts 31 by nuts 42.

Suitable holes are provided in the upper fece of the bottom 34 into which the lower ends of bolts I1 nt to facilitate proper placement of thc heating unit and support thereof.

The heating unit is further supported by bushing 43 carried by rod 44 which extends from the top panel 28 to the inner bottom 3b. This rod has an acorn nut 41a at the upper end.

The rod is also provided with a bushing 45 above baille 38 and the upper end of this bushing abuts against washer 46 under nut 41. The rod 44 is held securely in place by nuts 48aand 48, above and below bottom 34. By this arrangement the rod 44 helps to support top panel 28 and this is important when the food receptacles are full. The bushing 45 is provided to hold baille 38 and associated parts securely in position.

Two circular heaters 35 are used instead of a single heater in order to distribute the heat more evenly throughout the heating compartment. For the same reason each of the circular heaters are constructed to have an extended surface. This arrangemnt avoids concentration of the heat. The baffles also assist in distribution of the heat and I have found that the heating assembly provides an even distribution of heat which has hitherto been dilllcult to secure.

The heaters are connected into the electric circuit by means of terminals 54 which extend through the baffles 40 into Contact with spring clips 55 which are connected by the wires 56 with the switch 50. The circuits of the two heaters are interconnected by wires 51 which extend from one heater to the other.

The heating assembly as a whole can be lifted bodily from the compartment 1 when the acorn nut 41a is unscrewed, the top 28 lifted and nut 41 removed. This arrangement gives a quick and' convenient mode of access to the heaters and associated parts if repairs are required.

I prefer an arrangement which will provide high, low and medium heats embodying two circuits which may be connected inseries or in parallel and in which one circuit may be cut out. in order to give the desired ranges of temperature. A thermostat may also be used to cut out one of the circuits when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum in the high range.

A convenient arrangement for theIelectrical switch is provided in one endl3 of the cabinet. This consists of panel 49 having variable heat control switch 50 at one end and electrical outlet socket 5| at the other end which may be used when it is desired to use some other piece of electrical equipment such as a toaster or percolator. The electrical cord 52 is used to connect heaters 3B to source of electric current and when not in use may be coiled about hook 53 under one of the side drop leaves.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a convenient and eilectlve service table which may be readily moved from room to room. The table may be used for cooking of all sorts of food when the electric switch is turned to provide high temperatures and when the food has been cooked or the correct temperature reached the switch may be turned to low and the proper Warming heat will be maintained for serving. The drop leaves are to be used to sustain the Weight of heavy dinner plates. cups and saucers, percolators and other appliances. When a meal has been served the top panel may be placed in position and the dishes, etc. placed thereon and wheeled away.

I claim:

l. A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, a plurality of electrical heating means within said heating compartment, a rod secured to the inner bottom wall and extending to and supporting said top panel and means securing said electrical heating means to said rod comprising a baille plate extending over and secured to the heating means.

2. A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, -a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, a plurality of electrical heating means within said heating compartment, a rod secured to the inner bottom wall and extending to and supporting said top panel and means securing said electrical he-ating means to said rod comprising a baille plate extending over and secured to the heating means, said baffle plate being secured to the rod between two bushings mounted about the rod.

3. A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, electrical heating means within said heating compartment, said heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements secured to a. common heat baille plate, a supporting rod extending from the inner bottom wall to the top panel and means securing said baille plate to said rod.

4; A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, electrical heating means within said heating compartment, said heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements secured to a common heat baille plate, a detachable supporting rod extending from the inner bottom wall to the top panel and means securing said baille plate to said rod.

5. A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, electrical heating means within said heating compartment, said heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements secured to a common heat baille plate and having downwardly extending terminals, means supporting said common baille plate, and contact terminals connected to an electric switch, adapted to engage said downwardly extending terminals, the said heating elements. baille plate and downwardly extending terminals constituting a heating assembly which may be removed as a unit.

6. A service table of the character described having a heating compartment with inner walls thereof heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top panel having openings with food receptacles therein, electrical heating means within said heating compartment, said heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements having lower baille plates secured to and spaced from the elements and a common upper baille plate to which said elements and lower baille plates are secured, a supporting rod extending from the inner bottom wall to the top panel to a common upper baille plate. each element and means securing the upper baille plate to said having a separate lower bame plate, terminals rod whereby the assembled heating elements and extending downwardly from the elements through baille plates are supported by said rod. i the lower baille plates, contact terminals con- '7. A service table of the character described nected to an electric switch adapted to engage 5 having a heating compartment with inner walls said downwardly extending terminals, and heat insulated from outer walls thereof, a top means supporting the common baille plate, said panel having openings with food receptacles heating elements, baille plates and downwardly therein, electric heating means within said heatextending terminals constituting a heating asing compartment, said heating means comprissembly which may be removed as a unit.

ing a pluralityl ot heating elements connected ELIZABETH M. HORN. 

